Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini, said on Tuesday Tehran would welcome a visit to Iran by the French president if the visit leads to further "international confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities."

According to IRNA, Hosseini made the remark while commenting on recent reports from Paris that President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would visit Iran if the country boosted its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Hosseini stated that the IAEA is the "only legal source entitled to examine the case of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities," and that Tehran had no limits on IAEA's inspection of its nuclear sites and facilities.

"Iranian officials will consider President Sarkozy's visit as an effective and constructive move, if it preludes to strengthening of confidence of international community in peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities," Hosseini conveyed.

He added that Tehran welcomed Paris proposal for establishing joint cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities.